Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2002-02-19
Sanders, Kriellion A. (Department: 1714)
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
C524S017000, C524S378000, C524S414000, C523S102000, C446S075000, C446S486000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06348534
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to play materials for children. More particularly, the invention concerns a resilient play gel for children that can be deformed and stretched.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Molding and play materials of various kinds are known in the toy arts for amusement and creative play. Such play materials in general are free-forming, malleable compositions that may be manipulated and shaped according to the whim of the user. Among these materials are gel-like toys that have interesting combinations of properties, such as elasticity and extensibility. Play materials meant for children are composed of non-toxic ingredients that, additionally, are non-irritating to the skin and eyes.
Various play material compositions have been proposed. Cordova, U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,205, discloses a gel play material including polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, a boron oxide compound or zirconium salt crosslinker, a polysaccharide gum thickener, an emollient and humectant, and up to 65% water by weight. The Cordova patent teaches that compositions with more than 65% water are “free-flowing and gooey.” Shapero, U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,290, describes a moldable composition containing polyvinyl alcohol, 25-65% by weight of an emollient and humectant, a boron oxide compound or zirconium salt as a crosslinking agent, an amorphous silica, up to 40% water, and a cellulosic material or gum as thickener. The high level of humectant and low level of water are used to minimize water loss and make re-hydration easier. The Shapero patent teaches that the amorphous silica hydrogen bonds the polyvinyl alcohol gel to provide cohesion and strength. Shapero et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,421 and 5,258,068 provide play materials based on guar gum and sodium alginate. Lester et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,547 describes a molding materials based on a starch, modified starch, modified cellulosic, protein gum, or water soluble acrylic, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyether.
Play materials when used in play are stretched, formed, bounced, and manipulated in many ways. It would be desirable to have a play material that is unusually extensible or has other interesting or amusing properties that engage the interest of children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an aqueous play gel composition containing water, polyvinyl alcohol, a surfactant, and a salt. The play gel is extremely extensible. Moreover, the play gel can be formulated with an unusually high water content, providing a reduced materials cost in manufacturing the play material compared to other play materials while maintaining the gel properties. Further, the play material can be kneaded, molded, and stretched, can be colored and/or scented, and can have other interesting colors or effects, such as glowing in the dark, changing colors with temperature or light changes, changing from transparent to opaque or from clear to colored with temperature or light changes, sparkling, being pearly, being magnetic, and so on.
The present invention further provides a play kit that includes a portion of a play material according to the invention and a container for the play material. Still further, the play kit may include the container and two or more portions of play material, each portion having a distinct property, such as being differently colored or scented or having a different property such ability to glow in the dark, change colors, and so on.
The invention still further provides a play material toy including one or more solid shapes, referred to herein as “inserts,” suspended in a transparent play material such as a play gel. The inserts are distinct from the play gel material can be removed from the gel and re-inserted into the gel.
Additionally, the invention provides a play kit that includes a container, a play gel, and one or more inserts. The elements of the play kit can be related to a single theme. In another embodiment, the play kit can include more than one set of inserts, with each set of inserts being related to a distinct theme or to a distinct sub-theme that conforms to or suggests a broader theme of the container and/or play kit as a whole. By saying that the inserts are related to a distinct theme it is meant that the shapes, colors, or other attribute of the inserts have a common subject or motif, such as a set of inserts shaped like items of food, or a set of inserts shaped and scented like different kinds of flowers, or a set of inserts having different geometric shapes.
The play material of the invention has a high water content and retains water over a long period of play time to provide a long play life. The play material also has a high clarity that is desirable for providing clean, bright colors and special effects for the play materials.
In a different aspect, the play material of the invention provides amusing play qualities by including one or more shaped inserts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The play material of the present invention includes poly(vinyl alcohol), a surfactant, a salt, and water. The poly(vinyl alcohol) is preferably at least about 79 percent hydrolyzed, more preferably at least about 87 percent hydrolyzed. The poly(vinyl alcohol) may be up to fully hydrolyzed. Grades of poly(vinyl alcohol) that are fully hydrolyzed (typically 98% hydrolyzed or more) may need to be dissolved in hot or boiling water, but once dissolved remain soluble when cooled to room temperature. The poly(vinyl alcohol) may have a nominal degree of polymerization of from about 550 to about 2200 or more. The poly(vinyl alcohol) preferably has a degree of hydrolysis of at least about 87%, more preferably at least about 88%, still more preferably at least about 96%, and even more preferably at least about 98%. The poly(vinyl alcohol) preferably has a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 10,000 to about 200,000, more preferably a weight average molecular weight of at least about 50,000, still more preferably a weight average molecular weight of at least about 85,000. More highly hydrolyzed or higher molecular weight grades of poly(vinyl alcohol) can be incorporated into the water of the play material by heating the water and stirring the poly(vinyl alcohol) in the water until dissolved. The water can be heated, for example and without limitation, to a temperature in the range of about 150° F. to boiling.
The play material preferably includes at least about 1% by weight, preferably at least about 5% by weight, and more preferably at least about 10% by weight of the poly(vinyl alcohol). Also preferred are play materials that include up to about 30% by weight, especially up to about 25% by weight, and particularly up to about 20% by weight of poly(vinyl alcohol). The play material preferably includes from about 1 to about 30 percent by weight of the poly(vinyl alcohol), more preferably from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of the poly(vinyl alcohol), and still more preferably from about 10 to about 20 percent by weight of the poly(vinyl alcohol).
The play material according to the invention also includes at least one surfactant. The surfactant is (or, if more than one, each surfactant is) preferably nonionic and nontoxic. Examples of useful surfactants include, without limitation, soya lecithin; polyoxyethylene monoesters of fatty acids such as polyoxyethylene (40) stearic acid monoesters; polyoxyethylene ethers of fatty alcohols such as polyoxyethylene (12) lauryl alcohol ether; polyethoxylated sorbitan esters, especially polyethoxylated sorbitan monoesters such as monooleates, monolaurates, monopalmitates, monostearates, and monolinoleates, such as polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate; polyoxyethylene ethers of monoesters of polyols such as polyethylene oxide (25) propylene glycol monostearate; and combinations of these. In surfactants based on polyethylene oxide, the number of polyoxyethylene units may range from about 5 to about 50, preferably from about 10 to about 40. Other examples of useful surfactants include, without limitation, polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl
Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman P.C.
Sanders Kriellion A.
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